When a method has the same name as an attribute (defined in the ancestor class or the same class), the attribute takes precedence and hides the method. Python will throw an error when the method is called.

Bad practice

class Example:
    def __init__(self, pie="Apple"):
        self.pie = pie

    def pie(self):
        ...

Here, if the class is instantiated with a value for pie, the method pie would be hidden. So, a function call like this: Example("apple").pie() will raise a run time error — TypeError: 'str' object is not callable.

It is recommended to have different names for attributes and methods.

Recommended

class Example:
    def __init__(self, pie="Apple"):
        self.pie = pie

    def make_pie(self):  # No longer shadowed by self.pie
        ...